Matthew 21

Jesus sends disciples for a donkey verse 1- 3

And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem

and were come to Bethphage

unto the mount of Olives

then sent Jesus two disciples

saying unto them

Go into the village over against you

and straightway you shall find an ass tied

and a colt with her

loose them

and bring them unto ME

AND if any man say aught unto you – you shall say

The Lord has need of them

and straightway he will send them

Quote of Old Testament prophecy verse 4- 5

All this was done

that it might be fulfilled which was spoken

by the prophet

saying

Tell you the daughter of Zion – BEHOLD

your King comes to you – meek – and sitting on an ass

and a colt the foal of an ass

Disciples bring donkey verse 6- 7

AND the disciples went – and did as Jesus commanded them

and brought the ass – and the colt

and put on them their clothes

and they set HIM thereon

Crowd welcomes Jesus into Jerusalem verse 8- 11

AND a very great multitude spread their garments in the way

others cut down branches from the trees

and strewed them in the way

AND the multitudes that went before – and that followed

cried – saying

Hosanna to the Son of David

Blessed is HE that comes in the name of the LORD

Hosanna in the highest

And when HE was come into Jerusalem

all the city was moved

saying

Who is this?

AND the multitude said

This is Jesus – the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee

Jesus cleanses Temple verse 12- 13

AND Jesus went into the temple of God

and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple

and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers

and the seats of them that sold doves

AND said unto them – It is written

MY house shall be called the house of prayer

BUT you have made it a den of thieves

Jesus heals in Temple area verse 14- 17

And the blind and the lame came to HIM in the temple

and HE healed them

AND when the chief priests and scribes

saw the wonderful things that HE did

and the children crying in the temple

and saying

Hosanna to the Son of David

They were sore displeased – and they said to HIM

Hear YOU what these say?

AND Jesus said unto them

YEA have you never read

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings

you have perfected praise?

AND HE left them – and went out of the city into Bethany

and HE lodged there

Jesus curses fig tree verse 18- 19

Now in the morning as HE returned into the city

HE hungered

AND when HE saw a fig tree in the way

HE came to it

and found nothing thereon – but leaves only

and said unto it

Let no fruit grow on you henceforward

for ever

AND presently the fig tree withered away

Disciple amazed verse 20

And when the disciples saw it – they marveled – saying

How soon is the fig tree withered away

Jesus introduces power in prayer verse 21- 22

Jesus answered and said unto them

Verily I say unto you – IF you have faith and doubt not

you shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree

BUT also IF you shall say unto this mountain

Be you removed – and be you cast into the sea

IT shall be done

AND all things – whatsoever you shall ask in prayer

BELIEVING you shall receive

Jesus returns to temple to teach verse 23

And when HE was come into the temple

the chief priests and the elders of the people

came unto HIM

as HE was teaching – and said

By what authority do YOU these things?

AND who gave YOU this authority?

Leader ask HIM regarding HIS authority verse 24- 27

AND Jesus answered and said unto them

I also will ask you one thing – which if you tell ME

I will like wise will tell you by what authority

I do these things

The baptism of John – Whence was it?

FROM heaven or of men?

AND they reasoned with themselves – saying

IF we shall say – FROM Heaven

HE will say to us

Why did you not then believe him?

BUT if we shall say – OF men

we fear the people

FOR all hold John as a prophet

THEY answered Jesus – and said

We cannot tell

AND HE said to them

Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things

Parable of two sons verse 28- 30

But what think you? A certain man had two sons

and he came to the first – and said

Son – go work today in my vineyard

He answered and said – I will not

but afterward he repented and went

AND he came to the second – and said likewise

AND he answered and said

I go – sir – and went not

Interpretation of parable verse 31- 32

Whether of them twain did the will of his father?

They say unto HIM – The first

Jesus said to them

Verily I say to you

that the publicans and the harlots go into the

kingdom of God before you

For John came to you in the way of righteousness

and you believed him not

BUT the publicans and the harlots believed him

AND you – when you had seen it

repented not afterward

that you might believe him

Parable of certain householder verse 33- 40

Hear another parable – There was a certain householder

which planted a vineyard – and hedged it round about

and digged a winepress in it – and built a tower

and let it out to husbandmen

and went into a far country

AND when the time of the fruit drew near

he sent his servants to the husbandmen

that they might receive the fruits of it

AND the husbandmen took his servants – and beat one

and killed another and stoned another

AGAIN – he sent other servants more than the first

and they did to them likewise

BUT last of all he sent unto them his son – saying

They will reverence my son

BUT when the husbandmen saw the son

they said among themselves

This is the heir – come – let us kill him

and let us seize on his inheritance

AND they caught him – and cast him out of the vineyard

and slew him

when the lord therefore of the vineyard comes

What will he do to those husbandmen?

Leaders response verse 41

They say unto him

He will miserably destroy those wicked men

and will let out his vineyard to other husbandmen

which shall render him

the fruits in their seasons

Jesus explains Scripture verse 42- 44

Jesus said unto them

Did you never read in the Scriptures

The stone which the builders rejected

the same is become the head of the corner

this is the Lord’s doing

and it is marvelous in our eyes?

Therefore

say I to you

The kingdom of God shall be taken from you

and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof

AND whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken

BUT on whomsoever it shall fall

it will grind him to powder

Leader wanted to lay hands on Jesus verse 45- 46

And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables

they perceived that HE spoke of them

BUT when they sought to lay hands on HIM

they feared the multitude

because they took HIM for a prophet

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 5 Tell you the daughter of Sion, Behold your King comes to you, meek, and sitting on an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. (4239 “meek” [praus] means gentile, humble, mild, modest, unassuming, soft, or of a soothing disposition)

DEVOTION: The Bible from Genesis to Revelation gives us insight into the life, death, resurrection and Second coming of Jesus Christ. There are many prophecies regarding each event. These Old Testament prophecies are used by the authors of the New Testament to show that both Testaments are inspired by the Holy Spirit for our learning.

Here we find one event that was predicted in a minor prophet called Zechariah. He told of this event hundreds of years before it happened. God knows all time zones. HE has no past or future. HE is always living in the present. HE is not in a time zone.

Too often we fight over whether God knows what is going to happen in the future. The future is always present with the LORD. HE wants us to realize that HE has given us power to live our life in a way that is pleasing to HIM. Jesus led the life that was predicted before the foundation of this world.

One of the characteristics of the life HE lived here on the earth was meekness or humility. HE came to teach us how we can live our life in a way that is pleasing to the Father.

We have to be humble in our actions. If we stay humble HE can bless us. Being humble in HIS eyes is to be totally dependent on HIM. Jesus showed us this by example. Are we putting into practice in our life today?

CHALLENGE: Would people who know you say that you have a humble or gentile spirit?

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 13 And said to them, It is written, MY house shall be called the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves. (

DEVOTION: Jesus was humble but HE was also able to confront those who were practicing false religion and teaching others the same. HE made HIS triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem.

When HE entered the Temple area HE saw something that displeased HIM. It not only displeased HIM but it also displeased the Father. What were they doing? They were exchanging money in the temple area dishonestly. They were not helping those who were worshiping the LORD but they were overcharging them for their sacrifices.

When false religion is taught in the church the LORD is not pleased. Money will not get anyone into heaven. Both pastor and people have to remember that the LORD is the one who provides our every need. There should be no cheating of the people by the leaders of the church and there should be no cheating of the leaders by the people.

Each person is held responsible for their use of their own money. The church should not have to ask for money – it should be given in love and thankfulness. There should be no business going on in churches by individuals who want to make a profit outside the church.

CHALLENGE: Church is for the LORD’S business alone. No one should be cheating anyone in church.

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (4100 “believing” [pisteuo] means be committed, place confidence in, to think to be true, faith, trust, entrust, or rely on)

DEVOTION: Jesus is instructing HIS disciples in the power of prayer. Jesus had the power to curse a fig tree, so that, in a day it withered away. HE goes on to tell the disciples that if they have faith or trust they could remove mountains that were in their way. Great things can happen when people put their trust in the LORD and ask for the right things to happen. Even the impossible can be done through their prayer life.

We live in a time period when many people don’t think it is true that God can do the impossible in their lives. They go to the LORD in prayer but doubt that HE will do anything for them. They say they trust in HIM but walk away from a time of prayer with anything but hope that what they prayed for will happen.

We need to change our thought process. We don’t need to go into a name it claim it process. That is wrong too. There are some things that we name that God doesn’t want us to claim. The prosperity gospel is not what Jesus is teaching.

HE is teaching a type of prayer that seeks the LORD’S glory in what is going to happen in that individual’s life. HE wants HIS disciples to trust HIM to do what is right and good for them in their life. Once we come to this point in our prayer life we can ask HIM for what will bring HIM glory.

CHALLENGE: Prayer needs to be important in our lives. Our confidence has to be in the LORD giving us what is best for us at all times.

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: 42 Jesus says to them, Did you never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner; this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? (1124 “Scriptures” [graphe] means a writing, thing written, or used to denote either the book itself or its contents)

DEVOTION: Here is Jesus asking the chief priests and scribes if they had read the writings of the Old Testament. This quote is found in both the book of Psalms and the book of Isaiah.

HE was the stone that the builders rejected. HIS comments in this parable made them realized that HE was talking about them. They were the religious leaders of the day. They made the rules. They were in a politically correct position with the Romans. They had everything going for them but a relationship with the LORD.

The Bible is supposed to be the final authority for any action on our part. It should have been the final authority for any action on their part.

They sought to lay hands on Jesus for HIS being honest with them. Jesus also tells us that the LORD had picked the publicans and harlots to represent HIM.

Today we know that not many noble or wise or rich are called to serve the LORD. Why? They think they know better than the rest of the people who live on this planet. The problem is that the chief priests and scribes thought the same thoughts.

Also, today we find that in many of our churches there are individuals leading who don’t care what the Bible says. They don’t even know what the Bible says. They interpret it the way they want to and tell people that they are just bringing it up to date. They say that there are many ways to heaven. They say that we live in a different culture and therefore the sins of the past are not the same today. They misrepresent the Bible.

The problem is they call themselves “churches.” They are not following the Biblical definition of a church. It is supposed to be a body of believers who follow the teachings of the Word of God. The Bible teaches that there is only one way to heaven and that is through the LORD Jesus Christ who came to this earth, died on the cross for our sins and was raised on the third day. We serve a risen Savior!! The ONLY Savior!!!

CHALLENGE: When the Bible speaks of the future we need to believe that it is going to happen. No doubting allowed!!

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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

House of Prayer verse 13

Believing prayer verse 22

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

Hosanna in the highest verse 9, 15

Temple of God verse 12- 14, 23

House of prayer verse 13

Chief priests verse 15, 23, 45

Scribes verse 15

Perfected praise verse 16

Elders verse 23

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

Prophet Zechariah verse 4

It is written – Isaiah verse 13

Have ye never read – Psalms verse 16

Read in the Scriptures – Psalms verse 42

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

Lord verse 9

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

Jesus verse 1, 6, 11, 12, 16, 21, 24, 27, 31, 42

Lord verse 3

King verse 5

meek

Son of David verse 9, 15

Name of the LORD verse 9

Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee verse 11

Healed in temple verse 14

Miracle of fig tree verse 18- 22

Teaching verse 23

Parable of Jesus: two sons verse 28- 32

Parable of Jesus: householder verse 33- 41

Stone verse 42- 46

Prophet verse 46

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

Temple of God verse 12

Kingdom of God verse 31, 43

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Buying and selling in Temple verse 12

Temple = den of thieves verse 13

Displeased verse 15

Doubt verse 21

Publicans verse 31

Harlots verse 31

Believed not verse 32

Repented not verse 32

Beat someone verse 35

Killed verse 35, 38, 39

Stoned verse 35

Steal inheritance verse 38

Wicked verse 41

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Meek verse 5

Prayer verse 13, 22

Praise verse 16

Faith without doubt verse 21

Ask in prayer verse 22

Believing verse 22, 32

Receive verse 22

Repent verse 29

Way of Righteousness verse 32

Fruit verse 43

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Jerusalem verse 1, 10, 18

Bethphage verse 1

Mount of Olives verse 1

Two disciples verse 1, 6

Prophet verse 4

Daughter of Zion verse 5

Great multitude verse 8

Bethany verse 17

Disciples verse 20

Baptism of John verse 25

John a prophet verse 26, 32

Pharisees verse 45

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

Heaven verse 25

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QUOTES regarding passage

42 In the NT, only Jesus asks, “Have you never read?” (12:3; 19:4; 21:16; Mark 12:10); and in each case he is saying, in effect, that the Scriptures point to him (John 5:39–40). The quotation is from Psalm 118:22–23 (LXX, which faithfully renders MT; cf. Notes). Luke adds a free translation of Isaiah 8:14 (cf. Isa 28:16), which appears in Matthew 21:44. “Stone” symbolism was important in the early church (Acts 4:11, Rom 9:33; 1 Peter 2:6) to help Christians understand why Jesus was rejected by so many of his own people; and doubtless its effectiveness was enhanced by Jesus’ use of it.

Jesus now turns to the image of a building. The “capstone” (lit., “head of the corner”) is most probably the top stone of roof parapets, exterior staircases, and city walls (cf. Derrett, NT Studies, 1:61). Psalm 118 may have been written about David, the type of his greater Son. All the “builders”—Goliath, David’s own family, even Samuel—overlooked or rejected David, but God chose him. So in Jesus’ day the builders (leaders of the people) rejected David’s antitype, Jesus. But God makes him the Capstone. Alternatively, and more probably, the psalm concerns Israel. The nation was despised and threatened on all sides, but God made it the capstone. Jesus, who recapitulates Israel (see on 2:15) and is the true center of Israel, receives similar treatment from his opponents, but God vindicates him (cf. 23:39).

The building metaphor makes no explicit allusion to the church: the point is christological, not ecclesiastical. The reversal of what man holds dear, the elevation of what he rejects, can only be the Lord’s doing; “and it is marvelous in our eyes.” (Carson, D. A. (1984). Matthew. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, pp. 453–454). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

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A better interpretation is that Jesus was simply saying the kingdom was being taken away from the nation Israel at that time, but it would be given back to the nation in a future day when that nation would demonstrate true repentance and faith. In this view Jesus was using the term “nation” in the sense of generation (cf. Matt. 23:36). Because of their rejection, that generation of Israel would never be able to experience the kingdom of God (cf. comments on 21:18–22). But a future generation in Israel will respond in saving faith to this same Messiah (Rom. 11:26–27), and to that future generation the kingdom will be given. By rejecting Jesus the Stone, these builders (Matt. 21:42) suffered judgment (he on whom it [the Stone] falls will be crushed). The religious leaders (then the chief priests and the Pharisees, v. 45; cf. v. 23) realized Jesus’ remarks were directed toward them, and they tried their best to arrest Him. But they were afraid of the … people (cf. v. 26), who thought Jesus was a Prophet (cf. v. 11), so they were unable to act. (Barbieri, L. A., Jr. (1985). Matthew. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 70–71). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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They rejected the Son (vv. 33–46). We are still at the vineyard. This parable is based on Isaiah 5:1–7, and in it Jesus reminded the Jews of God’s goodness to them as a nation. God delivered them from Egypt and planted them in a rich land of milk and honey. He gave them material and spiritual blessings and asked only that they bear fruit for His glory. From time to time, God sent His servants (the prophets) to the people to receive the fruit. But the people mistreated the servants, and even killed some of them.

What should the householder do? He could have sent his armies to destroy these wicked men. But instead he sent his own son to them. The reference, of course, is to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is “the Heir” (Heb. 1:2). Instead of receiving and honoring the son, the men cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Jesus was crucified “outside the gate” (Heb. 13:12–13, nasb), rejected by His own nation.

The people listening to the parable were caught up in the drama and did not realize that they passed sentence on themselves. Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22–23 to explain that He was that Son and the religious leaders were the husbandmen (Matt. 21:45). The crowds had quoted from Psalm 118:26 when they had welcomed Jesus into the city, so this Scripture was fresh in the minds of the rulers.

Often in the Old Testament, God is referred to as a rock or a stone (Deut. 32:4, 18, 30–31; Ps. 18:2, 31, 46). The stone is also a messianic title. To Israel, Jesus was a stumbling stone (Isa. 8:14–15; Rom. 9:32–33; 1 Cor. 1:23). Israel rejected the Messiah, but in His death and resurrection He created the church. To the church, Jesus is the foundation stone, the head of the corner (Eph. 2:20–22; 1 Peter 2:4–5). At the end of the age, Jesus will come as the smiting stone (Dan. 2:34), destroy Gentile kingdoms, and establish His own glorious kingdom.

Of course, the Jewish leaders knew the messianic import of the Scripture Jesus quoted. They were the builders who rejected the stone (Acts 4:11). What were the consequences? For one thing, the kingdom would be taken from Israel and given to another nation, the church (1 Peter 2:9, and note the context, 1 Peter 2:6–10). Those who would attack this stone would be “pulverized”; those whom Christ judges will be crushed to bits. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 78). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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21:42 the stone … rejected. This refers to His crucifixion; and the restoration of “the chief corner stone” anticipates His resurrection. the chief corner stone. To the superficial eye, this quotation from Ps 118:22, 23 is irrelevant to the parable that precedes it. But it is taken from a messianic psalm. Jesus cited it to suggest that the Son who was killed and thrown out of the vineyard was also “the chief corner stone” in God’s redemptive plan. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Mt 21:42). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

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“The stone which the builders rejected.” Jesus called their attention to the definite prophecy of Psalm 118:22. He Himself was the rejected “Stone.” But in His resurrection God was to make Him the head of the corner in the new temple of living stones He was about to erect.

A Jewish legend explained this verse by declaring that at the building of Solomon’s Temple a stone was sent up from the quarries at the very beginning for which the workmen could find no place, so it was thrown down into the valley below Mount Moriah—“The stone which the builders rejected.” Later they sent word that they were ready for the cornerstone, but the masons declared it had been sent up already. Finally someone recalled the disallowed stone, and a search in the valley brought it to light, and it was hoisted up to the mount again, and made the head of the corner.

“The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” Israel after the flesh was to be put aside. The kingdom for which they had waited so long was to be lost to them forever. A new and elect nation, a regenerated Israel, shall possess the kingdom eventually. Meantime the grace of God is going out to the Gentiles.

Christ is the Stone of salvation; He is also the Stone of judgment. The Jews stumbled over Him and were broken (Isaiah 8:14). Some day He will come again, as the Stone falling on the image of Gentile power to grind it to powder (Daniel 2:34, 35). (Ironside, H. A. (1948). Expository notes on the Gospel of Matthew. (pp. 278–279). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)

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The Kingdom Taken and Given. From whom will the Kingdom of God be taken? Christian exegesis has often viewed Matthew 21:43 as predicting the demise of national Israel as the people of God and its replacement by the predominantly Gentile church. But what group is represented by the recalcitrant farmers from whom authority over the vineyard is to be taken? In terms of the parable proper, Israel is represented by the vineyard, not by the farmers, who ostensibly stand for the leaders of Israel. This is made clear in the response of Israel’s leaders to the parable and its application by Jesus; they recognized that he had been talking about them (21:45). They were the recalcitrant farmers (21:35–39), the builders who rejected the stone (21:42), and those broken to pieces and ground into powder by the stone (21:44). The identification of the recalcitrant farmers of the parable with the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day seems clear (Carson 1984:454; Davies and Allison 1997:189–190; Keener 1999:510–511, 515–516).

But if 21:43 speaks of Kingdom authority being taken away from these religious leaders, to whom does the text say this Kingdom authority will be given? Some scholars take this phrase as conclusive evidence that a new “nation,” the church, has replaced the nation of Israel in God’s plan (Bruner 1990:770; Hagner 1995:623; Hare 1967:153; Morris 1992:544). But this view is unconvincing in view of the previous discussion of the entity from whom the Kingdom is taken. The pronoun “you” in 21:43 has as its parabolic antecedent the recalcitrant farmers, not the fruitful vineyard. In the following context it is clear that the religious leaders believed Jesus was talking about them, not Israel as a whole (21:46). Thus it is reading far too much into this verse to view it as indicating the replacement of Israel by the Gentile church. Nor does Matthew’s use of the word “nation” (ethnos [1484, 1620]; 21:43) clearly support this view (Levine 1988:187–189, 207–211). If the Gentiles were in view here, one would expect the plural, “nations” (cf. Gr. of 4:15; 6:32; 10:5, 18; 12:18, 21; 20:19, 25; 24:9, 14; 25:32; 28:19). In Matthew 21:43 the entity to which the Kingdom will be given is an ethical, not ethnic, entity. Those who produce fruit—that is, those who practice Kingdom ethics—will replace the recalcitrant farmers who have refused to render the harvest to the landowner. In Matthew’s view, his Christian Jewish community and others like it, who view Jesus as the ultimate teacher of the Torah (5:17–48), practice Kingdom ethics. It is they who replace the Jerusalem religious establishment as the leaders of Israel. (Turner, D., & Bock, D. L. (2005). Cornerstone biblical commentary, Vol 11: Matthew and Mark (pp. 277–278). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.)

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Ver. 42. Jesus saith unto them, did ye never read in the Scriptures, &c.] The passage which stands in Psal. 118:22, 23. The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes. Very appositely is this Scripture cited, and applied to the present case; which expresses the rejection of the Messiah by the Jewish builders, priests, and Scribes: the whole Psalm may be understood of the Messiah. R. David Kimchi owns, that there is a division among their Rabbins about it: some say that the Psalm is spoken of David, and others, that it is spoken of the days of the Messiah; and these are certainly in the right; and as for this particular passage, it is applied by some of them to the Messiah: so on mentioning Hos. 3:5 they say, “David was king in this world, and David shall be king in the time to come: wherefore ’tis said, the stone which the builders refused, &c.” And one of their noted commentators on those words, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, has this note: “It is fit thou shouldst be little among the families of Judah, because of the impurity of Ruth the Moabitess, which is in thee: out of thee shall come forth unto me, Messiah, the son of David; for so he saith, the stone which the builders refused, &c.” Christ is often in Scripture compared to a stone, and is called the stone of Israel; is said to be a stone of stumbling to some, and a precious tried stone to others: is represented as a stone cut out of the mountain without hands, and on which are seven eyes: and is fitly compared to one, for his usefulness in the spiritual building the church, where he is as both the foundation and corner-stone, and for his strength and duration. Christ is the sure, firm, and everlasting foundation, which God has laid in Zion, and the only one of any avail; nor can any other be laid to any purpose; and if he is neglected, and laid aside, in the ministration of the word, the building which men endeavour to rear, or exhort unto, will come to nothing. Whoever build on him are safe, and on nothing else: Christ is the foundation, on which the church, and every believer, are built, and therefore will abide; for the gates of hell cannot prevail against them: the covenant of grace is immoveable, being established in him; its mercies are sure, and its promises yea and amen: the salvation of immortal souls is certain, resting upon him; the faith and hope of the saints fail not, being directed to, and settled on him: the house not made with hands, which is in heaven, is an eternal one; and the city, which has foundations, is a continuing one, because of the concern that Christ has in it; and though he is of such eminent use and importance in the building, yet, as such, the builders rejected him: by the builders are meant, the Jewish rulers, both political and ecclesiastical, especially the latter, who pretended to instruct and build up the people in knowledge and understanding; but in a very bad way did they do it, and upon a very sandy foundation, upon their fleshly privileges, their moral righteousness, and the observance of the ceremonial law, and the traditions of the elders. The Jews used to call their doctors and their scholars builders: says R. Jochanan, “the disciples of the wise men are called בנאין, builders, because they study in the building of the world all their days, which is the law.” These rejected the Messiah, refused to receive, and acknowledge him as such: they disallowed and disapproved of him, as base and vile, and the most contemptible of mortals, and set him at nought, and had him in the utmost scorn and derision. And so he is rejected by some who bear the characters of builders among Christians: as when his proper deity, and eternal sonship are denied, and he is treated as a mere creature; when his satisfaction and atoning sacrifice are either wholly rejected, or little regarded, lessened, and depreciated, and repentance and good works are put in the room of them; when his imputed righteousness is opposed, and laid aside, and the righteousness of men preferred unto it, and cried up as the matter of justification in the sight of God; when his efficacious grace is represented as unnecessary to regeneration, conversion, and sanctification, and to the performance of good works; and when he is left out of public ministrations, as the way of life and salvation, as the fountain of all grace, and foundation of all happiness, and human power, free-will, and moral righteousness are put in his room. But notwithstanding the former and present rejection, and ill treatment of him, he is become the head of the corner: he is the corner-stone in the building which knits and cements it together, angels and men, Jews and Gentiles, Old and New Testament saints; saints above, and saints below, and in all ages and places, all meet, and are united together in this corner-stone; which also strengthens and supports the building, and holds it together, and is the ornament and beauty of it: he is the chief corner-stone; he is higher than the kings of the earth; he is superior to angels, and the chiefest among ten thousands of his saints; he is exalted above all creatures, angels, and men, who, by the Jewish builders, was despised and rejected, and scarce allowed to be worthy the name of a man: this is the Lord’s doing; this stone is laid in the building by him: the rejection of him is according to his determinate counsel and fore-knowledge; and the exaltation of him, above every name, is owing to him, and he is by, and at his own right hand: and is marvellous in our eyes; in the eyes of all the saints; there being in all this such a wonderful display of the wisdom, grace, mercy, power, and faithfulness of God. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 1, pp. 247–248). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

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FROM MY READING:

TOZERSPEAKS (volume two) by A. W. Tozer

The Bible makes it plain that any church that is a genuine New Testament church is actually a communion and not an institution. (p. 467)

Brethren, how wonderful if we have found the spiritual maturity and understanding that allows us to confess: “Our congregation is so keenly aware of the presence of Jesus in our midst that our entire fellowship is an unceasing communion! (p 468)

There is a distinction here: Christ is literally present with us – but not physically present. (p. 468)

We read and understand that there was trouble in that early church because the members came together for reasons other than recognizing the divine Presence. (p. 469)

Actually, they were meeting together for purposes other than that of finding God at the focal point of manifestation in the person of His Son!

There was a judgment upon them because they were too carnal, too worldly, too socially minded, too unspiritual to recognize that when Christians meet they should at least have the reverence that a Greek had when he led a heifer to the sacred grove. (p. 470)

Today, I say, we ought to be a company of believers drawn together to see and hear and feel God appearing in man. That man is not a preacher, or elder, or deacon, but the Son of Man, Jesus Christ – back from the dead and eternally alive! (p. 471)

As part of that, He was devoted to the rescue of fallen mankind – completely devoted to it. He did not do a dozen other things as avocations. He did that one thing! He was devoted to the altar of sacrifice – to the rescue of mankind. (p. 471)

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Old Testament WORDS for Today by Warren W. Wiersbe

Folly has nothing to offer but sinful pleasures that last a few moments but result in eternal judgment. (p. 118)

Christian students in secular schools must especially beware of “scientific truths” or “historical truths” that are really lies when measured by the Bible. (p.119)

My doctor says, “You are what you ear,” but we also are what we read and think about. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Pov. 23: 7)

Make the right choice. Sit at Wisdom’s table, open your Bible, read it, and meditate it. The inspired Scriptures always come first. (p. 119)

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Family Worship by Donald S. Whitney

The great British Baptist preacher of the 1800’s Charles Spurgeon spoke to this issue, saying,

Brethren, I wish it were more common, I wish it were universal, with all [Christians] to have family prayer. We sometimes hear of children of Christian parents who do not grow up in the fear of God, and we are asked how it is that they turn out so badly. In many, very many cases, I fear there is such a neglect of family worship that it’s not probable that the children are at all impressed by any piety supposed to be possessed by their parents.

I am persuaded from my own ministry experience in hundreds of churches that so little family worship regularly exists in Christian homes today, that even in most of our best churches, most of our best men do not even pray with their wives (and children if they have them) much less lead them in ten minutes or so of worship as a family. (p. 13)

Having your family in a Christ-exalting, gospel-centered, Bible-teaching local church is crucial to Christian parenting. But it is not enough for conveying to your family all you want to teach them about God and your beliefs. Moreover, it is unlikely that exposure to the church once or twice a week will impress your children enough with the greatness and glory of God that they will want to pursue him once they leave your home. (p.14)

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1 Corinthians 3
Paul says no foundation can be laid other than Jesus, and anything else is worthless in eternity.
INSIGHT

When the events of life are viewed with an eternal perspective, things that initially seemed important become unimportant, and things that seemed unimportant become important. Religious activity that is not undertaken with the right spirit or motive is worthless in view of eternity, regardless of how much weight it is given by men. And conversely the smallest cup of water given in the name of Christ receives eternal reward. Be careful how you build your life’s work. Keep eternity in mind at all times.

(Quiet Walk)

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THE ADVOCATE, PART 2

He ever liveth to make intercession for us. Hebrews 7:25
Christ is not our advocate before an unwilling God. But at the same time we must be very careful not to go to the other extreme and think that what John means by “advocate” is just that the work of Christ on the cross prevails and continues throughout eternity and is there always in the mind of God, and that therefore in that sense Christ and His work are advocates for us. We must not think that, because that makes it something quite passive, and that is an idea we must reject, not only because of 1 John 2:1, but also because of those magnificent words in Hebrews 7 where the whole argument is that “he ever liveth to make intercession for us.” Christ is unlike the Levitical priests who came and lived and died and then a new person had to be appointed. The whole point about Him, says the author of Hebrews, is that He lives. He is without beginning and without end—it is an eternal priesthood—and it is because “he ever liveth” that He is able to “save…to the uttermost”—a nd must forever and ever irrespective of what may happen—those “that come unto God by him.”
In other words, it does seem to me that once more we are confronted by a conception that baffles our understanding. But of this we can be quite certain: As the Lord Jesus Christ looked after His disciples and followers while here on earth, as He looked after their interests and did certain things for them, so He is now equally active for us there in heaven. He is representing His people; He is there looking after us and our interests. This is not a conflict between Father and Son; but it seems to me that in the economy of the blessed Trinity, the Father has handed this particular work to the Son.
A Thought to Ponder: As the Lord Jesus Christ looked after His disciples while here on earth, so He is now equally active for us there in heaven.

(From Walking with God, pp. 37-38, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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The Savior of the World
“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” (1 John 4:14)
This unique title of the Lord Jesus Christ assures us that when the Father sent His Son away from the glories of heaven down to a world lost in sin, it was not just to be the Messiah of the Jews, or to assume David’s throne as King of Israel, or to punish the wicked Gentile nations.
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17).
In fact, this special title is used only one other time in the Bible, and it was used by Samaritans rather than Jews when they came to know Jesus as He ministered among them for two days. These people were mostly of Gentile background with a mixture of Israeli blood who had become adherents of a quasi-Jewish religion that was also part pagan.
But they were actually looking for a Savior, and their testimony after meeting Jesus was: “Now we believe . . . and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world” (John 4:42). They perceived that He had come to bring salvation to lost sinners in every nation, not just to Israel or Samaria. As He said later, “I came not to judge the world, but to save the world” (John 12:47).
And so He commanded His disciples “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations” (Luke 24:47). He became to the Father “the propitiation . . . for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2) when He offered up His life as a sacrifice for sins, then died and rose again. We who have believed on Him as our personal Savior are now to be His witnesses “in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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Daily Hope

Today’s Scripture Ecclesiastes 11:7-10

“If I knew what I know now when I was young, I would have done things differently!” That is a phrase I have stated and have heard many people say in some form. The joys and the sorrows all mingle to create a unique person named you! Yet it is the lessons we each learn as we grow that makes our life adventure so exceptional!

Life is a sweet gift from God that we are to enjoy and embrace. Solomon begins his final and concluding thoughts as he had begun his book. What does life consist of and how does man fit in the scheme of this cycle of existence? He began with the question in 1:3 of “What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun?” People and events come and go but it is all vanity. Now after all the research and personal reflection, Solomon acknowledges the beauty and pleasure that man can enjoy throughout his lifetime.

The defining element that Solomon inserts is the presence of God and man’s dependence upon God for all life’s activities. As man does not know the way of the wind the development of bones in a mother’s womb, so we cannot understand the works of God (v.5)! Solomon’s words indicate that he desires man to enjoy life, particularly in their youth. The joy and experiences of learning and investigating the world and all its mysteries are before the young and in their inquisitive nature they are to stretch and explore. Amid the joy and sorrow of these explorations, know that the Lord is attentive and will hold each person accountable (v.9).

As youth mature, the truths learned from their explorations and searching for answers guide them through adulthood. The joys of those days lift and the sorrows temper us as we recognize the fleeting time of our life. The reality of the brevity of life causes us to reflect and, for most, to put away evil (sin) and remember our Creator. Take time today to give thanks for the joys you have enjoyed. Allow the Creator freedom to remove the sorrow that may have settled into your heart. Psalm 31:1 state, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” Psalm 31:11 concludes with, “Be glad and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”

With an Expectant hope, Pastor Miller

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